With respect to the papaya, pineapple, and coconut, there is perhaps no other fruit that can as effectively transport you to a palm-lined tropical island as the mango. As the author Eve Babitz once ...

There are over one thousand mango varieties grown worldwide, each with a unique history, flavor profile, and texture. Known as the “king of fruits,” mangoes are popular in sweet and savory dishes ...

To learn more, try "The Great Mango Book," by Allen Susser (Ten Speed, $16.95), a guide to buying, storing, eating and cooking more than 50 varieties. Fifty varieties? In fact there are hundreds.